M'brough 2-1 Birmingham

Virtual Replay: 3D animation of Mark Viduka's winner for Boro

Virtual Replay: 3D animation of Emile Heskey's goal for Birmingham

Saturday's Premiership photos Steve McClaren's view Steve Bruce's view

Two goals from Mark Viduka earned Middlesbrough their third consecutive Premiership victory.

The summer signing from Leeds put Boro ahead in the first half with a crisp side-footed finish after latching on to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's perfect pass.

But Birmingham were level just before half-time as Emile Heskey rifled home from Mikael Forsell's accurate flick.

Viduka's agile header after the break restored Boro's lead, while Hasselbaink came close with a late free-kick.

It was a deserved win for the home side, who generally enjoyed the better of the chances.

Ray Parlour had Boro's first shot of note on seven minutes, the former Arsenal man seeing his 20-yarder blocked by Kenny Cunningham.

On 16 minutes Heskey's drive was blocked by Ugo Ehiogu and from the rebound Damien Johnson rifled wide.

Boro responded through George Boateng, with the midfielder unlucky not to get a corner when his 30-yarder was clearly tipped wide by City keeper Maik Taylor.

Viduka broke the deadlock on 27 minutes with a textbook finish.

Hasselbaink broke quickly leaving Matthew Upson stranded, and the Dutchman played a slide rule pass to the Australian, who side-footed home with admirable accuracy.

KEY MOMENTS 27 mins: Viduka slots home 42 mins: Heskey slams equaliser 48 mins: Viduka restores lead

Middlesbrough then enjoyed a good spell, with Szilard Nemeth hooking over from eight yards and Franck Queudrue heading straight at Taylor through a crowded penalty area.

But three minutes before the break, Heskey rifled the visitors level.

The England international displayed his trademark strength as he latched on to a Forssell flick-on before rifling home a right-foot shot from 12 yards.

The Blues' nearly undid their good work on the stroke of half-time as a defensive mix-up allowed George Boateng a header which Muzzy Izzet hoofed off the line.

Birmingham's hopes of building on their equaliser after the interval took a blow as Viduka netted his second of the match within three minutes of the restart.

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The striker showed tremendous reactions, and not a little agility, to deftly nod Boudewijn Zenden's deflected cross past the helpless Taylor from close range.

Boro were buoyed by retaking the lead, but they were still not entirely comfortable against Birmingham's lively attack, with Heskey a particular threat.

At the other end Viduka, aiming for a hat-trick, was wasteful as he was picked out on the edge of the six-yard box by Nemeth, only to mis-control.

Birmingham still had fight, and Julian Gray caused havoc as he surged forward on the left, only to see the ball booted clear, before Mario Melchiot saw a header blocked, the Dutchman claiming that the ball struck Gareth Southgate's arm.

Hasselbaink was inches away from scoring with a wicked curling free-kick on 82 minutes which flew wide with Taylor beaten.

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Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Ehiogu (Riggott 60), Queudrue, Nemeth (Job 81), Boateng, Parlour, Zenden, Viduka (Doriva 72), Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: Downing, Nash.

Booked: Southgate, Queudrue.

Goals: Viduka 27, 48.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Gray, Gronkjaer, Johnson (Morrison 75), Izzet, Yorke, Heskey, Forssell. Subs Not Used: Tebily, Bennett, Martin Taylor, Clemence.

Booked: Izzet, Yorke, Heskey.

Goals: Heskey 42.

Att: 30,252.

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).